STOCK THEFT TO BE NON BAILABLE WITH 14 YEARS IMPRISONMENT – HICHILEMA
PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has reiterated that government is in the process of amending the law which will lead to stock theft being non bailable.
Meeting with traditional leaders in Siavonga district yesterday, President Hichilema stated that government will not allow people to get off scot free after stealing livestock.
He said his government does not take any type of crime lightly and as such thieves of goats, cattle, fish and other livestock will need to be fished out of society by way of punishing them severely.
“We will not allow theft. Those who steal cows, goats. Those in criminal activities for livestock theft. Those who are married, you men who are married, you will be locked up for 14 years, no bail, when you come back you find your wife has produced four children from other men,” he said.
“When people steal from individuals, ing’ombe (cattle), we will arrest them, goats, cattle, pigs chickens, fish. We are amending the law, there will be no bail, because they steal from a widow seven goats, two oxen you have said. There will be no bail, today we arrest them, tomorrow they go and negotiate with the owner outside court.”
The Head of State further advised thieves and would-be offenders to take up any of government’s interventions like cash for work to sustain themselves.
He warned that no one will walk away freely after stealing anything from citizens.
“Those who steal, go and work, there are a lot of various government interventions like cash for work that can work for your advantage. This government does not support stealing from the people of Zambia,” he explained.
He urged traditional leaders to work together with government in ensuring that thieves are brought to book.
“We need to work together, we your children should not rush to you to say I’m being victimised. Don’t take what is not yours. The subjects must not run to you to divide the country on the basis of fighting against corruption, public money is public money, we must be united in those ends. When people steal from the state, we will arrest them. Why should we lobby for people who are stealing as big as 10 million US dollars. Let’s work together,” urged the Head of State.
And Southern province chiefs’ representative Chief Nalubamba of Namwala district of Southern Province expressed happiness over the move government is taking on stock theft.
He called for a more severe punishment for the thieves as that will help deter would be offenders from committing crimes.
Kalemba